by Robotbeat » Jan 30, 2002 @ 3:03am
Yeah, ActiveSync does suck. When I got my iPAQ a few months ago, I still used Windows 95, so it wouldn't let me use the USB cradle, which was the only one I had for my iPAQ. However, my USB CF reader worked great on my computer, so I just used that. It was so much faster. The only things I couldn't do was sync files (i.e. Avantgo, email, etc.) but I didn't care about those things anyways. For installing programs, I just copied over the CAB file after I installed it. Either that, or I would zip it up and then send over the CAB file (this is what I do most often). That was nice because I could then uninstall any program to make space and then reinstall it when I wanted to use it, without having to mess around with ActiveSync.
Last week, my computer got Windows XP, which fully supports USB. I still use the USB CF reader method because I am used to it and it is now easier for me than ActiveSync. The USB CF reader is also at least 4 times faster than USB ActiveSync. I haven't once synced my iPAQ in the like 2 or 3 months that I have had it, and I use it every day (and longer every day than even the most avid Palm fan). I just lately installed ActiveSync on my XP computer because some programs won't install a CAB file without ActiveSync installed.
Yeah, ActiveSync just sucks. I wouldn't miss it, as long as software developers don't use installers, only just a self-extracting EXE or a ZIP file (even better) or even the CAB file itself.
Yup, Pocket PCs themselves can operate just fine without a sync program, whereas Palms rely entirely on them, for without them, they couldn't do anything except the built-in stuff. Well, I guess you could beam stuff from one Palm to another, but that would be dumb.
I call on you to take an ActiveSync fast (as in not using it), or call it a boycott if you want. It will make you smarter, more relaxed, and may even improve your love life.
Die, Palm, Die. If that offended you, then get rid of your Palm OS device.